Flush valve control



Feb. 1, 1938. E F. MORKISCH FLUSH VALVE CONTROL Filed Jan. 21, 1937 [Nl/E/VTOR ERW/N F. MORK/JCH A TTOR/V' YO HARR/s, K/ECH/ FOSTER at HARR/oPatented Feb. 1, 1938 vireo STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 21,

17 Claims.

, My invention relates to tanks, more particularly to flush tanks fortoilets and the like, and is directed to an improved form of valvecontrol for such tanks. While my invention may be 5. adapted to any typeof reservoir tank from which fluids are discharged, it is particularlyapplicable to toilet tanks, and the present disclosure, by way ofillustrating the principles involved, will be devoted to a toilet tankconstruction.

The usual toilet tank has an inlet valve connected to the domestic waterline and controlled by a arranged to cut off the valve when the tankisfilled to a. predetermined level. The usual outlet valve is buoyant,generally of hollow rubber construction, and is adapted to be heldseated in closed position by fluid pressure. An automatic cycle of tankdischarge and refill is initiated by manipulating a handle to unseat thevalve, whereupon the valve is moved upward by fluid pressure to permitdischarge from the tank. When the fluid level lowers sufficiently todrop the valve back into its seat, the tank outlet is out off and thefluid level rises until the float turns off the inlet valve.

For the purpose of minimizing the number of models required, and ofavoiding the necessity for adjustment and servicing after sale, toilettanks are usually designed for the maximum capacity required for anynormal installation, and the valve 3g control mechanism is arbitrarilyset at nearly maximum capacity. Toilet bowls vary widely, however, inthe volumes required for efficient flushing and not infrequently willoperate satisfactorily with substantially less volume of fluid 3.; flowthan provided by the arbitrary factory adjustment oi the valvemechanism.

An important object of my invention is: to achieve economies in thewater consumption of such toilet tanks by providing means to reduce 4.0the volume discharged regardless of the factory adjustment of the flushtank, and, further, to make such means conveniently adjustable.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a-volume-reducingmeans in the form of an 45 accessory that may be sold as a separatearticle of manufacture adapted for convenient installation in a standardtoilet.

It may be observed that the pressure head of fluid discharge from such atank progressive-1y 50 drops as the fluid level in the tank lowers, sothat the efiectiveness of the initial flow is greatly superior to theefiectiveness of the later flow. It is a further object of my inventionto confine the discharge of a toilet tank to the more e'lfective flowunder the higher pressure heads.

1937, Serial No. 121,439

Economies may be had in the operation of a typical toilet, moreover, byarranging for controlled flexibility in the quantity of fluiddischarged. Contemplating such a possibility, I have as: another objectto provide selective operative 5 means whereby at the choice of theoperator the tank may be caused to discharge one of at least twodifferent volumes, and I further propose to achieve such discharge witha smooth and quiet mechanical action.-

Broadly described, my invention comprises the combination, with abuoyant outlet valve, of automatic means to move the valve into its seatwhen the liquid in the tank is at some predetermined level above thatseat.

The above and other advantages of my invention will be apparent in mydetailed description to follow and in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a toilet tank revealing mechanismincorporating one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken as indicated by the line2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the valve-seating means which is novel in. Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a second form of myinvention. incorporating a selective control, the parts being in theposition that follows a minimum discharge cycle.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken as indicated by the line 44of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of parts of the mechanism of Fig. 3 takenduring the discharge stageof a maximum discharge cycle.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the parts positioned just afterthe initiation of a minimum discharge cycle.

Fig. 7 is a partial plan view showing parts of the mechanism of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the same mechanism shown in the positions ofFig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical section showing the construction of aselective control that may be incorporated in a third form of myinvention, the control being in effective position to produce a minimumdischarge.

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the control in an inefi'ectiveposition to permit a maximum discharge of the tank.

Figs. 1 and 3 show a typical tank I!) having the usual cover H. An inletvalve I2 controls a Water supply pipe l3 and discharges water through anipple M that is downwardly disposed in the usual manner for silentfilling of the tank. The inlet valve I2 is controlled in the usualmanner by a hollow metal float I5 mounted on the end of a float arm I6that is pivotally mounted near its end in a bracket II extending upwardfrom the valve I2. The operative connections between the float arm I 6and the valve I2 include a link I8 connected to the valve, and a leverI9 that is connected at an intermediate point to the link I8 and isconnected at one end to the float arm I6 by means of a second link 20,the lever being pivoted at its other end to a bracket I So extendingupward from the valve I2. At the position of the float I5, shown by fulllines in Fig. 1, the valve I2 is closed, the valve opening as the floatdrops from that position.

The usual tank discharge pipe 2I communicates with both a dischargevalve seat 22 and. the usual vertical overflow pipe 2 la. The well-knownprevailing type of buoyant outlet valve 23, normally resting in thevalve seat 22, has a hollow rubber valve member 24 open at the bottom,and a vertically disposed stem 25. The valve stem 25 has a ring 26, orother enlargement, at its upper end and is slidably mounted in a bracketarm 21 that is mounted in turn on the overflow pipe 2 la. Slidinglyembracing the valve stem 25 is a loop 28 formed in a wire 29 thatpivotally depends from the end of a valve-trip arm 30, the arm beingpivotally mounted on a suitable pin 3I. This valve-trip arm 30 ismanually operated from the exterior of the tank. For instance, amanually operable toilet handle 32 on the outside of the tank may beflxedto a suitable rock shaft 33 extending through the tank wall andcarrying on the inside of the tank a cam means, such as a rocker arm 34,positioned to lift the valve-trip arm 30.

When the handle 32 is rotated counter-clockwise, the ring 28 engagingthe ring 26 lifts the outlet valve 23 from its seat, and the unseatedvalve, by virtue of its buoyancy, moves upward, guided by the bracketarm 21. In the normal action of prior art toilet tanks, the valve 23will remain elevated until dropped back into its seat by the recedingwater level when the tank is substantially empty. Once the valve isseated, water pressure is eifective only against its upper surface andthe water level rises until the float I5 turns off the inlet valve I2,thereby completing a normal automatic discharge cycle.

The parts of the mechanism described to this point are typical of alarge proportion of the present toilet tanks and are recognized as oldin the art.

The part of the combination shown in the drawing that is contributed bythe present form of my invention comprises means to operativelyassociate the float valve I5 with the outlet valve 23 for the purpose ofseating the valve prematurely with respect to the usual discharge cycle.In other words, it is contemplated that the outlet valve will beautomatically forced into its seat at a predetermined fluid levelsubstantially above the level of the valve seat 22.

This means, in the form depicted by Figs. 1 and 2, may be a simpleaccessory attachable to the float arm I6. A suitable saddle 35 fits overthe float arm I6, and the float arm is engaged between a set-screw 36 inthe saddle and a horizontally disposed arm 31 that fits through suitableapertures in the legs 38 of the saddle. At the outer end of thehorizontal arm 3'! is an engagement member 39 having, by preference, acup-shaped lower face 40. The engagement member 46 may be adjustablymounted on the arm 31 by a stem M in threaded engagement with a sleeve42 on the end of the arm. It will be apparent that the position of theengagement member 40 may be widely adjusted by virtue of itsscrew-threaded relation to the arm 37 and the slidable relation of thearm 3! to the float arm The discharge cycle of a toilet tankincorporating my accessory is initiated in the usual manner by manuallyrotating the handle 32 to unseat the outlet valve 23. By virtue of itsbuoyancy the outlet valve remains elevated until the engagement member39 is moved downward by the descending float I5 and makes contact withthe upper end of the valve stem 25. The combined weight of the float I5and the float arm I6 is sufilcient to overcome the buoyancy of the valve23, and consequently as the water level in the tank drops, thesuperimposed weight forces the valve 23 into its seat. By this actionthe water discharge is curtailed, for example, when the water in thetank drops to the level corresponding to the position of the float I5 inthe dotted position of Fig. 1. Once the valve 23 is seated, it remainsseated, since water pressure cannot be eifective against its lowersurface. The valve 23 remains seated as the float I5 carried upward bythe rising water level finally cuts off the valve I2 to complete thedischarge cycle of the tank.

It will be noted that the extent to which the water level drops duringthis discharge cycle is determined by the adjustment of the engagementmember 39 relative to the float arm I6, and that the average pressurehead of discharge during the cycle is higher than the average pressurehead of discharge without the use of my invention. The float I5 in thenew combination has the dual function of both controlling the inletvalve I2 and closing the outlet valve 23 against liquid pressure.

A second and somewhat more elaborate form of my invention is illustratedin Figs. 3 to 8. In the figures in the drawing of this secondembodiment, the valve assembly including the fluid control and the majorportion of the outlet valve assembly including the overflow pipe and thebuoyant outlet valve are the same as described above, correspondingparts being given corresponding numbers. The description of themechanism will be confined to the novel portions thereof.

The means associated with the fluid arm I6 for closing the outlet valve23 may be of the construction shown in Fig. 2, but as indicated in Fig.4 may consist of simply an offset finger 44 secured to the float armI6by a suitable saddle 45 and a set-screw 46. As the float arm I6 dropsdownward, this finger 44 is positioned to move into contact with aplunger 41, which plunger may be broadly termed an operative connectionor connection member, since it serves to transmit forces from the fingerto the valve stem 25. s

The plunger 41 has a flanged head 48 and an expanded lower end 49 which,by preference, has a concave lower face to engage the ring 26 of thevalve stem 25. The plunger 41 is slidingly mounted in the end of an arm56 that is adjustably secured by a set-screw 5| in a tubular radialextension of a collar 52. The collar 52 rotatably embraces the overflowpipe 2 la between two fixed rings 53 that are clamped to the pipe. Thecollar 52 has a second radial extension or arm 54 that is operativelyconnected to an arm 55 of a valve-trip cam 56, the operative connectionbeing a bent wire 51 pivotally engaging the arm 54 by one of its endsand'at its other-endslidinglyengaging an arcuate slot 58 in the arm 55.

The cam 56 is mounted on a cam shaft 59 that is controlled from theexterior of the tank by a suitable toilet handle, not shown; identicalwith the toilet handle 32' above. The camhas'two cam arms, a shorter arm60 disposed toward the pivot of the float arm I6, and a longer arm Blidisposed toward the outer end of the float arm IS, the cam arms being soproportioned that thesame degree of angular movement of the -con--- trolhandle in either direction will have approximately the same liftingeffect on the valve-trip arm 30 to unseat the valve 23. The slot58 inthe arm 55 is of an approximate length corresponding to such rotation. I

The wire 51 and the collar 52 are 'so'constructed V and arrangedthatwhen the wire engages theright end of the slot 58, the cam'56' beingin itsnormal position, the plunger 41 is in effective registry with thevalve stem 25, as-indicated in Fig. 3, so that the lowering of the floatarm 16 moves the finger 44 against the plunger and thereby causes thevalve 23 to be seated; and, on the other hand, when the wire ispositioned at the left end of the slot'58, as'indicatedby Fig. 5, thecollar 52 is rotated sufficiently to carry the plunger 41 out ofeffective registrywith the valve stem 25 and out of the path of thefinger 44, so that the float I5 is permitted to drop undeterred'to thebottom of the tank for a full discharge cycle.

Considering the cam 56 in the position indicated. by Fig. 3, it isapparent that the cam may be rotated in a counter-clockwise directionto-unseat thevalve 23 withoutinterference from the wire 51 in the slot58, the plunger 41 being in registry with the valve stem 25 throughoutthe counter-clockwise movement of the 'cam 56. If, however, startingwith the parts in the position indicated in Fig. 3, the cam 56 isrotated clockwise sufficiently to unseat the valve- 23, the wire 51 ispulled over to such an extent that the plunger 41- is moved to itsineffective position, and the wire will be at the left end of the slot.58 when the cam 55 returns to its normalp osition, as indicated by Fig.5.

Considering the mechanism disposed as indi-'' cated by Fig. 5, it isapparent that the cam 56"- may be moved clockwise to unseat the valve23- without interference from the wiregbutthat counter-clockwisemovement of the cam-sufficient to unseat the valve returns the wiretothe position indicated by Fig. 3, thereby moving theplunger 41 intoeifective position in registry with the valve stem 25 and in the-path ofthe-finger 44.

It is apparent that by virtue of the arrangement set forth, regardlessof the position of the wire 51 and the plunger 41 at the beginning oirotation of the cam 56 from its normal position,- counter-clockwisemovement of the toilet handle to initiate a discharge cycle ends withthe plung er 41 in the effective position to provide a discharge cycleof minimum or reduced volume and, on the other hand, clockwise rotationof the cam 56 to initiate a discharge cycle ends with the plunger 41displaced from its effective position, thereby permitting a dischargecycle of full volume, the tank then functioning exactly as if myinvention were not incorporated therein.

When counter-clockwise movement of the toilet handle unseats the valve23 to initiate a dis charge cycle of reduced. volume, theivalve 23 .byvirtue of its buoyancy pushes upward, thestcnrr.

25 engaging thevlower end- 4910f the plunger 41' and moving the; plungerupward .to meet the descending finger 41, the parts thenbeing: dis.-posed as shown inFig. 6. Since the buoyancy of. the valve 23 causesoperative contact to be established'between thevalve stem 25 and theplunger:

41 and between the plunger 41 and: the finger 44, the'subsequentmechanical action of the toilet is smooth and. silent without noticeableimpact between cooperating parts. As the float I51- descends, the finger44, acting through the plunger 41' in a progressivebut positivemanner,depresses the valve 23. into .its seat, thereby cutting off the. water.discharge and causingsthe float l5 theree after to move .upWardwith therising water level until the valve .12 is .closed.

It is:apparent that the essential difference between thetwo embodimentsresides inv the fact that. inxthe second form of my'invention I provideselective means. whereby the discharge of; the toilet tank may eitherapproximate the maximum volume of the tank or apredetermihed-f butinsteadof aaring. at the end of .its'valve stem 1 1 65 there is acontrol plate 36 hingedto the upper 1 end of the valvestemv by asuitablepin: 61, the 1 pin extending across: asultableslot'68 in the controlplate. The dimensions and disposition of the control plate are suchthat-when the con:- trol plate is in the horizontalposition indicated byFig. 9' it intercepts the arcuate path of; the engagement member 40 'onthelfloat arm l6; this arcuate. path being: indicated by the broken line69, and when the control plate issuitably tilted, it clears-the-pathofthe controlmember, as indi cated by Fig.- 10. A suitable-wire 10 similarto the wire 23, previously described, has the same function as the wire29-in operatively connecting the valve stem 65with the valve-trip arm30', the wire having a loop 1| slidableupon-thevalve stem for-thepurpose of unseating the valve 23; The'control plate 66 has "a secondslot 12 receiving the wire 1|] with sufficient clearance to permit therequired tilting of the control plate.

The control plate 66 is, adapted for manuallyrelationship maybeachieved, for example, by 1 providing, an inclined cam member 13 on thebottom of the control plate 66, the cam member shown in the drawingbeing a simple strap bent to the proper configuration and having asuitable slot 14 to receive the valve stem 65 with sufiicient clearanceto permit the requiredtilting of'the

